Photo | Michael Browning

The Chapmanville Regional High School, Chapmanville Middle School and Truthway Christian Academy archery teams, coached by Estel Murray, gathered at the Chapmanville Town Council meeting on Tuesday evening to thank the council for their financial support of the teams. The town council has donated $500 each year to the teams.

slideshow

CHAPMANVILLE — The Chapmanville archery teams attended last night’s Town Council meeting to thank the council for all it does in support of the teams.

Archery Coach Estel Murray, who is also a town councilman, brought in his team and thanked the council for its annual donation of $500, which he says goes a long way toward the needs of the three teams.

Murray has been coaching the three teams for the past seven years. The Chapmanville Regional High School team finished 8th in the state and the Chapmanville Middle School team placed 10th. One individual, Katie Murray, placed high, scoring 275 out of a possible 300 points.

“We’ve had a lot of fun this year,” Coach Murray said.

The council gave the kids a round of applause after they posed for photos with the mayor and council members.

The CRHS team was joined by the Chapmanville Middle Middle School team and the Chapmanville Middle Elementary team, along with Truthway Christian Academy at the council meeting.

“We wanted to thank the Chapmanville Town Council because they have donated $500 a year for the last four years that I know of,” Murray said. “We greatly appreciate that because it takes a lot of stress and pressure off the coaches who know that they don’t have to fund raise.”

Murray said he goes around and solicits the businesses in Chapmanville for help with the archery teams.

“So far, I’ve had no problems,” Murray said.

The longtime coach, who is 67-years-old, said he plans to retire from coaching at the end of this year, but he will still be involved with the team.

“Next year, I probably won’t be in the coaching role,” Murray said. “But, I will still be in the leadership role to that effect. I’m going to retire and let somebody else take care of it.”

To contact Staff Writer Michael Browning, call 304-752-6950, extension 309, or email him at mbrowning@loganbanner.com.